This handgun was detected by TSA officers in a passenger’s carry-on bag at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) on Dec. 8. (TSA photo)
INDIANAPOLIS – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a man from carrying a loaded .40 caliber handgun with 16 bullets onto an airplane at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) Tuesday.
At approximately 2:15 p.m., a TSA officer detected the gun in the local man’s carry-on bag. TSA officials immediately alerted the Indianapolis International Airport Police Department and an officer responded who took possession of the weapon and escorted the passenger and weapon away from the checkpoint.
“Passengers are allowed to travel with their firearms and there is a procedure on TSA’s website that details the proper steps to follow,” said TSA’s Indiana Federal Security Director Aaron Batt. “During this pandemic, bringing personal firearms to the security checkpoint can cause travelers to miss flights and cause delays. These unfortunate incidents may also prolong the passengers waiting in the security lines as well.”
TSA issues civil penalties to travelers who bring guns to a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100. The complete list of civil penalties is on the TSA website. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges for a period of time.
This is the 30th firearm detected at IND this year. A total of 62 were detected at IND security checkpoints last year.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should check for firearm laws in the jurisdictions they are flying to and from.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.